Lhasa Court sentences one Tibetan to death and five to lengthy prison terms

May 30, 2010

TCHRD, May 26, 2010

Lhasa Intermediate People's Court sentenced a Tibetan, Sonam Tsering, to
death with two years reprieve and five other Tibetans to lengthy
imprisonment terms between 3 to 7 years in prison for secretly hiding
him from the law enforcement agencies.

On 25 May 2010 the Lhasa Intermediate People's Court sentenced Sonam
Tsering to death with two years reprieve under article 289 and 263 and
the other five Tibetans ( Tashi Choedon, Kelyon, Yeshi Tsomo, Tayang,
Tsewang Gyurmey) to imprisonment terms between 3 to 7 years under
Article 310 of the Criminal Law of the People's Republic of China
according to Lhasa Evening News
(http://www.lasa-eveningnews.com.cn/epaper/uniflows/html/2010/05/25/02/02_41.htm).
The official media reported that Sonam was charged of rioting and
inciting the public to riot on 14 March 2008. He undertook leadership
role in inciting hundreds of people in rioting by setting cars and shops
on fire and overturning police vehicles. He undertook leadership role by
wielding knife in air and loudly shouted anti government slogans atop a
police vehicle. A damage of around 40 million Yuan has been done due to
the rioting. The other five Tibetans were charged of secretly hiding
him by providing a hiding place to a wanted criminal and providing him
help in escaping overseas.

Sonam Tsering, 23 years old, was born to Tsering Samdup (father) and
Yangkyi (mother) in a semi nomadic family in Rachap Township, Payul
County, Kardze ?Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture?, Sichuan. In late 2007
Sonam arrived in Lhasa on pilgrimage and stayed back. When popular
protest broke out in Lhasa in March 2008, he took active participation
in it. Sonam was arrested in mid October 2009, 17 months after the
Uprising in Lhasa.

With the passing of death sentence on Sonam Tsering, a total of seven
Tibetans have been given the capital punishment and two actually
executed. Around 450 Tibetans have been given various imprisonment terms
for their participation in the pan-Tibet spring uprising against the
government of People's Republic of China. The spontaneous protest by the
Tibetans in venting out a built up resentment over decades of flawed
policies by the government has been dealt with iron-fisted crackdown by
the government and its various law enforcement and judicial agencies.
The government and its propaganda department have been repeatedly
painting the popular Tibetan uprising with an image of criminal
activities to the international community.